Recoil-pad for guns.



PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

A. T. DUNCAN. RECOIL PAD FOR GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8.1904.

Witnesse g rn'r aoFF ARTHUR THOMPSON DUNCAN, OF CLINTON, MISSOURI.

RECOlL-PAD FOR GUNS- To all whom it may concern/.- Be it known that I, ARTHUR THOMPSON DUN- CAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Clinton, in the county of Henry and State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Recoil-Pad for Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to recoil-pads for guns.

The object of the invention is to present a recoil-pad for guns which in use shall be thoroughly efl ective for the purposes designed, which shall be strong and durable, which may be readily applied to or removed from the stock of a gun, which may be easily repaired in case of. damage or replaced when worn out at but aslight cost, and which shall be light, and thus not liable to destroy the balance of the gun.

With the above and other objects in view,

as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction and combination of parts of a-recoil-pad for guns, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which likecharacters of reference indicate correspondcoil-pad of this invention applied to the stock may be stated in this connection that while the moved, if desired.

of a gun. Fig. 2 is aview of the blank from which the jacket or boot is made. Fig. 3 is a'view in perspective of a jacket or boot.

Fig. 4 is a perspective detail view of the cushion viewed from its inner side or that which bears against the butt-plate of the gun. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the cushion. Fig; 6 is a transverse section through the cushion.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the stock of an ordinary gun, to which is applied the recoil-pad of the present invention. It

stock is shown as provided with a butt-plate 2 this isnot essential, as in order to preserve the balance of the gun the plate maybe re- The recoil-pad comprises a jacket or boot Specification cf Letters Patent. I Application filed April 8, 1904. Serial No. 202,241.

Patented. Sept. 12, 1905.

3 and a cushion 4. The jacket or boot, as shown in Fig. 2, is made of a single piece of material, preferably leather, and is cut in such shape as whenassembled, as shown in Fig. 3, it will conform closely to the contour of the gun-stock, and thus positively hold the cushion against the butt of the gun-stock. The lower edges and a portion of the front of the jacket or boot are secured together by stitches, the opposed edges having a welt 5 interposed between them for the purpose of reinforcement, the front part or What will be the under side of the boot being providcd along its edges with eyelets 6 to receive a lacing 7 of the usual or any preferred construction. The fly formed by the separated edges of the jacket is covered by a tongue 8 of the usual construction. I

The cushion 4c is, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, approximately concavo-convex in crosss'ection and in longitudinal section, the concave side being adapted to rest against the butt-plate or the butt of the gun and conform thereto and the convex side being adapted to bear against the bottom of the jacket or boot, and thus impart the proper shape thereto to cause it to fit the shoulder of the user and at the same time to give a neat and finished appearance to the butt-end of the boot. The cushion is made of thin rubber in any preferred manner and is provided on its concave side with an inflating tube 9, one'end of which enters the cushion, and the other end has connected with it a valve to permit inflation of the cushion and also positively to seal the tube to prevent escape of air. In order to strengthen the point of junction between the inflating-tube and the cushion, a reinforcing-strip 11 is employed which covers that portion of the tube entering the cushion.

In the use of the pad the cushion is first inflated to the proper degree and is then inserted in the boot with the narrower end toward the lacing and with the inflating-tube disposed outwardthat is to say, in position to rest against the butt-plate or butt of the gun. The toe 12 of the stock is then inserted within the jacket, the lacing of course being loose, and the jacket is then drawn over the heel 13 of the stock, and thus seats the cushion against the butt of the stock. As the parts are thus disposed the stockis held between the knees and the lacing is tightly drawn upward, care being taken from time to time to draw uponthe jacket to cause it IIO to be properly seated on the stock and in contact with the cushion. When properly laced, the ends of the lacing are secured together in the usual manner. v v

The advantages present in the pad of this invention are that the cushion is interchangeable and is a separate and distinct device of itself and is not in any manner connected with the jacket or boot, so that it may be replaced whenworn out or injured at but a small expense. Being made of thin rubber it possesses the greatest elasticity, readily conforms to and completely fills all the available space between the butt of the stock and the end of the jacket or boot, thereby securing the greatest possible amount of cushioning for the space occupied. This latter is an important feature, as the 'efliciency of the pad depends upon the quantity of air in the cushion.

By theemployment of the novel form of valve described the cushion may be inflated to any desired degree and overinflation is positively avoided, which 'is objectionable and detracts from the efiiciency of the device. The location of. the inflating-tube on the inner side of the cushion is also of importance, as space is thereby *econ-ornized and all danger of kinking or looping of the-tube, which might result in rupture, is obviated, while the disposing of the valve downward-tha=t is to say, toward the laced portion of the jacket permits the cushion readily and conveniently to be inflated without removing it from the jacket.

By constructing the jacket of asing'le piece of leather and with but one seam, as described,

it will be caused perfectly to conform to and fit any ordinary-sized stock, is readily adjusted and will not work loose on the stock, is durable, inexpensive, and easily made, is smooth and of finished appearance, and is no larger than the stock on which it is disposed, the thickness of the leather being excepted.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that therecoil-pad of this invention, While exceedingly simple of construction, provides for all of the requisites thatare essential in the production of a thoroughly effective and durable device and that its use will not require any change in the structural arrangement of the gun or of the butt-plate.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed is- A recoil-pad for guns comprising a jacket or boot constructed from a-single piece of material shaped to conform to the contour of a gunstock and havingthe edges of its butt-end and a portion of its under side interposed by a rei-nforcing-welt-and stitched-together the under side having a lacing-fly provided along its edges with eyelets to-reeeive a lacing, a tongue to cover the fly, a pneumatic cushion loosely disposed within the jacket, an inflating-tube carried by the cushion, and means for sealing the tube.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

, v ARTHUR THOMPSON DUNCAN.

Witnesses:

W. STEVENS, HULL H. PAGE. 

